Oklahoma Woman Battling Kidney Failure Brings A Taste Of Philly To OKC

It’s a Philadelphia staple, but there’s only one place in Oklahoma to get water ice.

“It’s supposed to be smooth and melt in your mouth,” said Shanaee Tolliver, owner of Philly ice.

The Philadelphia native birthed the business out of her challenges with kidney failure.   

“I’ve been on dialysis for thirteen years, and I was getting depressed, and I wasn’t able to get certain things, so I started traveling back and forth to home, to get water ice,” said Toliver.  

So, during covid she came up with a plan to create her favorite treat from Philadelphia.

“You know when they start handing out those stimulus checks, she said yes, and I was like, if they give me one, I’m going to but a machine,” said Tolliver.

That was the start of Philly ice, “Yep, they come get chilly with frozen Philly,” said Tolliver.

“I come by here at least twice a week every week,” said customer Deanna Davenport-Frazier.

“I saw the sign was up, and I knew I had to come in here and get me some, it’s one of the best things you can have in the world,” said Davenport-Frazier.

Customers are always trying to figure out exactly what this refreshing treat is.

“Is this a snow cone? And I was like no it’s nothing like a snow cone, it’s smoother, it’s ten times better than a snow cone,” said Tolliver.

Working out of her garage, when the customers see the signs, they have to stop and get the treat that they really can’t describe.

“With my product it’s mixed, it’s actually blended, and because of the way I have to blend it, I don’t use actual ice,” said Tolliver.

If the frozen treat isn’t made from ice, what is it made from?

“It’s made with a bunch of Philadelphia love, that’s all it’s made with,” said Tolliver.

Tolliver sells the treats Tuesday thru Saturday from 12:30 – 7:30 and plans to stay open through the Winter months. Her address is 1401 NE 30th street. For more information check out her Facebook page @Frozen Philly.